There is a great search for happiness
and fulfillment in life now. The emphasis now is on enjoying life. That search
for happiness and fulfillment is symbolized by the prodigal son who went in
search of happiness in the parable
in today’s Gospel (Luke 15). The only problem was that he thought he
could find happiness in what the parable calls a life of debauchery (Luke 15:13). We would
say now he tried to find happiness by satisfying his every desire
whether moral or immoral. This eventually led him to living with the pigs in the
piggery. But true happiness is not to be found outside of ourselves, but within
ourselves, in our own hearts. I am sure if his father or anybody else had tried
to show him before he left home that he would be wasting his life and money, he would
not listen. He had to be left to learn the hard way, from his own mistake, since there
was no way you could reason with him. He also had to decide himself to come home.
If someone went to bring him home he would resent it.

That younger son reminds me of the
struggle of society at this time to be successful. We have a booming economy, we
are a Celtic Tiger (1990’s), but in many ways we have a spiritual famine in our country
at the moment. Because of that spiritual famine in some ways we have ended up
like the younger son living with the pigs in the piggery. We could think of the
instances of drug and alcohol abuse, all the fraud and stealing in the
workplace, murders and violence, marital infidelity, priestly infidelity, all
the rows and tensions between people. Because of these and so many other things
we could say we are like the younger son living with the pigs in need of
returning to our Father. So let us return, we won’t find happiness with the
pigs. Happiness is to be found within, not outside of ourselves.

In the parable we are given a most
beautiful description of our heavenly Father. He is outside of the house waiting
for the younger son to return (Luke 15:20). When the son returns his father
runs to him, clasps him in his arms, kisses him, brings him in and throws
a party for him. When we return to God he throws a party for us. Not only does
he come out of the house once, but he comes out a second time to try to persuade
the elder son to come in (Luke 15:28). Our heavenly Father welcomes each of us to
his party. The most beautiful line for me in the parable is what the father says
to the elder son, “All I have is yours.” Our heavenly Father says to us, “All
I have is yours.” This is a most beautiful promise and invitation. We were not
told at the end of the parable whether or not the elder son went in to the
party (Luke 15:32). After reading this parable we also have a choice to make, will we stay
outside or will we go in to enjoy the Father’s party.

Far away hills look green, there are
many attractions in life, there are many voices saying to us, “Follow me” or, “Follow your desires and you will find happiness.” But the best offer of
happiness is from God our Father, “All I have is yours.” God our heavenly
Father is outside the door waiting for us to come to him. When we return he runs
to us, clasps us in his arms and invites us into the party. For the remainder of
Lent we might try to make an effort to answer that invitation from our heavenly
Father, “all I have is yours.” During every Mass we receive the same invitation
from Jesus, “This is my Body which will be given up for you...this is the cup
of my blood, it will be shed for you.” Let us go into the house and enjoy God’s
party.